In 1887, John Bartholomew's Gazetteer of the British Isles
described Dumfries Shire like this:

Dumfries-shire, maritime co., on S. border of Scotland; adjoins the cos. of Lanark, Peebles, and Selkirk on the N., and on the S. is washed by the Sol way Firth; extends about 53 miles NW. and SE. between Ayrshire and Cumberland, and about 32 miles NE. and SW. between Roxburghshire and Kirkcudbrightshire; coast-line, about 20 miles; area, 680,217 ac., pop. ...

76,140, or 72 persons to each sq. mile. The surface in general is bare and hilly. The dales of the Nith, Annan, and Esk, however, are rich in beauty, and contain fine holms for pasture and some good arable land. The rivers are numerous, and yield splendid salmon and trout fishing. The coast and S. region is low and sandy; much of it is covered with morass, and lochs are numerous around Lockerbie; but there is also much excellent corn-growing land. The Lowther or Lead Hills along the N. boundary are upwards of 2000 ft. in height, and abound in lead ore. These and the other hills round the borders are mostly smooth in outline, and afford excellent pasturage. (For agricultural statistics, see Appendix.) Red sandstone is a prevailing rock, and limestone, coal, and lead, are worked. The co. comprises 41 pars, with 2 parts, the parl. burghs of Annan, Dumfries (greater part), Lochmaben and Sanquhar (part of the Dumfries Burghs -- 1 member), and the police burghs of Annan, Dumfries, Lochmaben, Lockerbie, and Moffat. It returns 1 member to Parl.

Vision of Britain presents long-run change by redistricting historical
statistics to modern units.
However, none of our modern units covers an area close to that of
Dumfries Shire.
If you want trends covering a particular location within
the county, find it on our historical maps and
then select "Tell me more".

How to reference this page:

GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth,
History of Dumfries Shire | Map and description for the county,
A Vision of Britain through Time.